New Restaurant Owners Not Eligible for City Loan Program Worry They’ve Been Forgotten | Eater Chicago

"Opened in February in Avondale by Peter Shen and his wife Sarinporn Intongkam, this cafe's owner poured his life savings into the business and estimates having sunk about $120,000 since signing the lease in 2018. He requested the program's $50,000 maximum but was denied because the business hasn't been open a year; Shen highlights long permitting delays that forced him to pay rent while awaiting approvals and left him without the multi-year cash cushion older businesses have. He criticized the city's rejection messaging for offering little guidance and noted confusing explanations from officials (one cited a 25% profit-loss eligibility threshold), stressing that he didn't expect to break even until years two or three and needs more targeted support." - Ashok Selvam